Black woman says American Airlines crew made her cover up outfit with a blanket

By Christopher Brito

July 11, 2019 / 7:34 PM
/ CBS News

American Airlines has apologized to a Texas doctor after she was temporarily removed from a plane over her romper outfit. Dr. Tisha Rowe was boarding a Miami-bound flight from Kingston, Jamaica, en route to Houston when a flight attendant told her to get off until she covered up, CBS affiliate KHOU reported.

Rowe told KHOU that she was traveling with her 8-year-old son on June 30 when she was asked to step off the plane. Once off, she was told to cover up or she wouldn't be allowed back on. After failing to change the crew's mind, she asked for a blanket, wrapped it around herself and then walked down the plane's aisle to her seat.

"I am, like, head down the whole time," Rowe said Wednesday. "I don't want to see anybody's face. I'm embarrassed. I'm humiliated. I did not look up at even a single passenger."

American Airlines rules state only that passengers must "dress appropriately," and bare feet or offensive clothing aren't allowed. Rowe said the crew didn't single out anyone else, even a woman who wearing smaller shorts.

"If I, being Leticia Rowe, was a white woman in that same body suit, if they thought it's inappropriate, do I think they would have removed that white woman from the plane?" she said. "Absolutely not."

She complained on Twitter about the airline crew following the incident for apparently considering her shorts "too distracting."

Here is what i was wearing when @AmericanAir asked me to deplane for a talk. At which point I was asked to “cover up”. When defending my outfit I was threatened with not getting back on the flight unless I walked down the aisle wrapped in a blanket. #notsofriendlyskiespic.twitter.com/AYQNNriLcq

So #AmericanAirlines just told me I couldn’t board the flight without putting a jacket over my ASSETS. My shorts covered EVERYTHING but apparently was too distracting to enter the plane. I guess that’s why they are AMERICAN airlines 🤷🏾‍♀️.... @AmericanAir

In a statement, the airlines said, "We were concerned about Dr. Rowe's comments, and reached out to her and our team at the Kingston airport to gather more information about what occurred."

"We apologize to Dr. Rowe and her son for their experience, and have fully refunded their travel," the statement continued. "We are proud to serve customers of all backgrounds and are committed to providing a positive, safe travel experience for everyone who flies with us."

Rowe said the apology was a good first step, even though she personally hasn't spoken to any AA officials. She also called for the airline to create dress code enforcement tests for their employees.

Her lawyer, Geoffrey Berg, also told KHOU he's been in contact with AA officials about further action.

"We've taken a few steps, not all of which I'm ready to discuss," Berg said. "Part of what we have asked is that they do exactly what she said, which is, solve the problem."